Under double wraps: Does Winx get the love she deserves?
Horsebetting’s resident tipster, form analyst and racing tragic, Daryl Curnow, takes a look at the big issues in the racing industry ahead of the prestigious Championships fortnight at Randwick.
MANY people questioned the inclusion of the Country Championships in New South Wales’ biggest racing carnival.
They’re not questioning any more.
The Country Championships is an initiative of Racing NSW which supports and promotes NSW racing in country areas. There are seven qualifying races held at each country club, all worth $100,000 in prize money. The winner of each leg goes straight into the $400,000 final, held this Saturday at Randwick.
The 1400m final at Randwick encompasses some zero-to-hero stories that would have otherwise never had an opportunity to race at Randwick. These are hard-working trainers who deserve their grand final on one of Australian racing’s biggest stages.
Just ask trainer Jane Clement who secured a spot with Chrysolaus courtesy of the Muswellbrook Wild Card race last Sunday.
The four-year-old was owned by country racing stalwart John Clift, who unfortunately passed away in February, and the horse was passed down to his family.
The win for Clement meant more than a normal win at Muswellbrook. She will get her chance to shine on the big stage in honour of the late John Clift.
“There were a few tears after the win, it was emotional,” Clement said.
“It was a great day and it gives me a bit of confidence when you win a race like that.”
Chrysolaus had already tried to qualify at Scone, but was unable to find its best over the 1400m. It dropped back in distance for its win last Sunday and Clement is confident it will get the distance in the final.
“I was confident he’d run well and he was primed for it, but it was a big race,” Clement said.
“He wasn’t suited when going into the Scone qualifier first-up over 1400 metres and after that run over 1280 metres on Sunday he’ll be suited to the seven furlongs (1400m) in the Final.
“It will be a tough race to win. Clearly Innocent is going to be hard to beat.”
It’s stories like these that keep the Country Championships going. We’ve all heard about the Waller’s and Snowden’s of the racing world, now it’s time for the Clement’s to shine.
Why suspensions could tarnish our biggest carnivals
Given that The Championships are trying to gain traction as a world racing event, shouldn’t fans and punters be presented with the best product possible?
We should, but due to jockey suspensions we will continue to get a lower-grade product. The Championships kick off this Saturday at Randwick and one of Australia’s most global figures won’t be riding.
Craig Williams will miss Day One of The Championships after pleading guilty to a careless riding charge at Sandown on a lowly mid-week meeting. The 11-meeting suspension encompasses The Championships and Williams will be forced to watch from the sidelines.
Williams is a globe-trotting jockey that attracts punters from Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong, but we’ll have to do without him.
This isn’t just about Williams not riding this Saturday, this is about what he represents. He represents a long list of jockeys that are suspended for this Saturday, which includes the likes of Kerrin McEvoy and Michael Walker, and we don’t understand the reasoning behind their punishment.
Jockeys prepare their group 1 rides a long way out from race day, but this can all be derailed following one bad ride throughout the week. Not only do the jockeys suffer, but the trainers have to adjust accordingly as well.
Using Williams’ ride at Sandown as an example – was it bad enough to deprive the jockey of four group one races?
Couldn’t jockeys be given some leeway in this area? Surely stewards could let the likes of Williams and McEvoy ride this Saturday and they could start their suspensions following The Championships? Why should fans and punters be given a product that doesn’t represent our best athletes?
What would have happened if Hugh Bowman missed the ride on Winx in the 2015 Cox Plate due to suspension? His career might never be the same and that’s where the issue lies.
Victorian jockey Craig Newitt is so afraid of missing his Australian Derby ride aboard Tarzino, he’s not riding this week.
Newitt rode Tarzino ($2 at CrownBet.com.au) in a gallop on Tuesday morning and instead of returning to ride in Melbourne, he has given up income to avoid a costly suspension.
“If he went home and copped a suspension he could miss the ride on Tarzino,” trainer Mick Price said.
“It’s not a risk he wanted to take and we’re happy knowing he will be riding the horse on Saturday.”
At this rate, jockeys won’t be riding mid-week leading into a major Saturday race meeting and that’s not good for Australian racing in general.
It’s time for stewards to rethink how they treat jockeys at all levels.
It’s now or never for Sydney racing crowds
On-course patron figures don’t always accurately show how successful a carnival has been, but big numbers certainly help the cause.
Australian racing has had its fair share of champions in recent times which have brought the crowds to the track.
The likes of Sunline and Black Caviar were big enough stars to generate big audiences and given that the Chris Waller-trained Winx is racing this Saturday, we expect a big turnout.
Winx is doing it all and we had wished Racing NSW and those in charge at Randwick would market Winx to the public more. Black Caviar had all the publicity you would want for a champion thoroughbred and Winx deserves its time in the spotlight.
Surely a horse doesn’t need to be unbeaten for the casual race fan to take notice? In my opinion, Winx has achieved more in Australian racing than Black Caviar did and that’s not taking anything away from the great sprinter.
Winx can win over multiple distances and destroying an international field in the Cox Plate was the most impressive win of 2015, but we still don’t get the feeling people are enjoying this ride as much as they should.
Get out to the track and watch this fine specimen in action.
Winx is the $1.85 favourite to win the 2016 Doncaster Handicap this Saturday. It is looking to emulate the likes of Sunline, More Joyous and Super Impose, so unless there’s a massive crowd to cheer on the champ, we’ll be disappointed.
2016 Doncaster Handicap market:
1. Kermadec – $7.50
2. Turn Me Loose – $26
3. Winx – $1.85
4. Stratum Star – $41
5. Bow Creek – $13
6. First Seal – $15
7. Volkstok’n’barrell – $26
8. Good Project – $26
9. Ecuador – $67
10. Happy Clapper – $11
11. Azkadellia – $11
12. He Or She – $26
13. Rudy – $51
14. Aomen – $201
15. Vergara – $101